Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Rich Thompson Trio: Generations

As this album’s title
suggests, trios have been a mainstay in jazz for, well,
generations. It’s a lot easier to gather simpatico musicians into a trio,
than into a larger group. It’s an affordable combo; small clubs can’t foot the
bill for larger groups. It also isn’t necessary to write the special
arrangements required by bigger bands.

Rich Thompson’s trio is one
of the newest.

Thompson’s career began in
1980, during the period when many original big band icons had retired, or
passed away, even though their bands still toured under different leaders. (Examples
include Count Basie and Glenn Miller.) Thompson was a drummer with both of
those units; he also played with Clark Terry and Dizzy
Gillespie. Additionally, Thompson has played in the rhythm sections of
numerous symphony orchestras across the country; he’s a professor at the
Eastman School of Music, and is the author of several Drum Set educational volumes and videos.

Pianist Chris Ziemba, also
associated with the Eastman School, is relatively unknown outside of the
educational field, despite his considerable exposure within that circle. Bassist
Miles Brown, another Eastman associate, is — like Thompson — conversant in
both the jazz and classical genres.

On one track (“I’m in Lovewith the Girl Next Door”),
Thompson added Doug Stone on tenor sax; he has played with numerous names,
including an extended tour with Maynard Ferguson’s Big Bop Nouveau.

This album is a mix of
originals from Thompson and Brown, along with some great old jazz standards (“I Hear aRhapsody,” “Keep Me in Mind” and “I Thought About You”). The
trio’s version of that latter Jimmy Van Heusen tune is superb; you won’t be
able to keep your fingers or feet still.

Thompson, Brown and Ziemba make
an excellent rhythm section, and the primary factor is Thompson’s drum work. He’s
more tasteful than most who play drums, and he really grooves; that inspires
the bass and piano.